Schuits' Solar Solution

[schuits]

I've posted this on the powerforums, but realise not everyone frequents that forum.

After a LOT of reading and searching I've produced what I think looks like a decent setup for our home.
Positive comments/recommendations are welcome!

 

[leon.davibe]

all makes sense to me and looks good

apart from the change over switch in the top row
live link to main isolator needed neutral is fine but the live is only connected to SPD , pretty sure on the day you connect it you would notice the missing link

and then the islanding ground bond
does the sunsynk supply power on the blue/orange wires or does it just close the contact, meaning there would be no power to power the relay the way it is currently wired, if it does relay would work
(i have very little knowledge of how sunsynk works hence asking)

edit: removed my blonde remark on 5a breaker and led indicator
if the contactor ever fails the indicator would still indicate it is ground bonding though as they use the same source and can operate independently and vice versa bonding would still work even if led ever fails but would look like not bonding dead led

 

[schuits]

Thanks for the comments.
I'm glad it makes sense to you, everytime I look at it I get a bit cross eyed for a while. I won't be doing the installation myself, I just like to understand things for when an installer comes.

The 1st point I'll need to look at, definitely something missing there..lol

The ATS240 provides current when the grid is on, hence the Normally Open contactor. When the grid drops the contactor should close creating an EN bridge with the inverters earth (island mode).
Hang on, that means the LED is on when the grid is on...oops.

 

[leon.davibe]

No i also went crossed eyed a few times

Maybe power the led via the unused leg of the contactor
Meaning the power will only flow when the contactor goes to it's normally closed position when power fails

edit blonde moment ats says 240v so yea see what you mean

Can the sunsynk push power to aux while shedding?

If NO i would rather use the load as the input for the changeover for geyser/stove

Meaning you could use the grid push feature when eskom is present if leaving heavy consumers on eskom
And be able to be able to use the heavy hitters geyser/stove as a excess solar dump even while shedding

not an electrician, so installers may have different opinions and point out regulations and things we don't know

 

[schuits]

No i also went crossed eyed a few times

Maybe power the led via the unused leg of the contactor
Meaning the power will only flow when the contactor goes to it's normally closed position when power fails

Good idea

edit blonde moment ats says 240v so yea see what you mean

Can the sunsynk push power to aux while shedding?

Not 100% sure, but will check. I should hope so. The concept is that when there is excess power being generated you can set the Aux output. For example limit it to out when batteries are over 95%.

I also have to check what the max output is under different conditions. It's a 8Kw inverter, is that it's max under any conditions, or if there is grid power can the Aux + Load generate more than 8Kw?

If NO i would rather use the load as the input for the changeover for geyser/stove

Meaning you could use the grid push feature when eskom is present if leaving heavy consumers on eskom
And be able to be able to use the heavy hitters geyser/stove as a excess solar dump even while shedding

That does seem to be the way most people do it.

not an electrician, so installers may have different opinions and point out regulations and things we don't know

Ye. Silly things like having a breaker just for a LED. Some people may ask why the stove&geyser aren't earthed, but apparently this is normal and avoids nuisance tripping.

I recently had my gas intallation COC'd. I had passed a rubber gas tube from a 9kg bottle, through a cupboard to the stove. Not allowed. Just an example of where installers know the rules better.

 

[Tomtomtom]

I recently had my gas intallation COC'd. I had passed a rubber gas tube from a 9kg bottle, through a cupboard to the stove. Not allowed. Just an example of where installers know the rules better.

Just one example where the rules are dumb, too.

In my case the installer, who also issued a CoC btw, did just that, passed the hose through the carcass. He pointed out that if he did go to the trouble of fitting a fixed connector, there would be two new hose joints adding points of failure rather than real safety.

I'm sure he changes his tune when he finds the same thing on someone else's install. But there you go. They know best.

 

[leon.davibe]

Good idea

Not 100% sure, but will check. I should hope so. The concept is that when there is excess power being generated you can set the Aux output. For example limit it to out when batteries are over 95%.

I also have to check what the max output is under different conditions. It's a 8Kw inverter, is that it's max under any conditions, or if there is grid power can the Aux + Load generate more than 8Kw?


That does seem to be the way most people do it.

Ye. Silly things like having a breaker just for a LED. Some people may ask why the stove&geyser aren't earthed, but apparently this is normal and avoids nuisance tripping.

I recently had my gas intallation COC'd. I had passed a rubber gas tube from a 9kg bottle, through a cupboard to the stove. Not allowed. Just an example of where installers know the rules better.

Yea as far as i understand the sunsynk can pass through max 60A so you should never exceed 13.2kw in bypass or blend mode
Got the figure in a sunsynk video

exceeding Burns the relays

Most tend to Say 12kw with the blend

Yea load shedding you are limited to 8kw

While eskom is present you can power more and let eskom pickup the difference making it easier to roi as you don't land on the situation that solar idles while battery is full and you are in bypass mode because exceeding the inverter output

 

[schuits]

Yea as far as i understand the sunsynk can pass through max 60A so you should never exceed 13.2kw in bypass or blend mode
Got the figure in a sunsynk video

exceeding Burns the relays

Most tend to Say 12kw with the blend

Yea load shedding you are limited to 8kw

While eskom is present you can power more and let eskom pickup the difference making it easier to roi as you don't land on the situation that solar idles while battery is full and you are in bypass mode because exceeding the inverter output

Interesting, thanks.

I'll have to find out how to protect the inverter from exceeding 12kw in that case.

I know some may say, just manage which appliances are used, but I'd rather be safe just in case someone doesn't get the message.

 

[W@P]

Nice effort you put in there. What size inverter are you getting or did I miss that?

 

[schuits]

Nice effort you put in there. What size inverter are you getting or did I miss that?

Thanks,

Ha! No you didn't miss it, I forgot to put it in. I'm looking at the 8Kw, based on the stats over a year below.

I have seen peaks slightly over 10kW though, they don't show on the graph as this depicts max usage/hour.

 

[soulie]

Good idea

Not 100% sure, but will check. I should hope so. The concept is that when there is excess power being generated you can set the Aux output. For example limit it to out when batteries are over 95%.

I also have to check what the max output is under different conditions. It's a 8Kw inverter, is that it's max under any conditions, or if there is grid power can the Aux + Load generate more than 8Kw?


That does seem to be the way most people do it.

Ye. Silly things like having a breaker just for a LED. Some people may ask why the stove&geyser aren't earthed, but apparently this is normal and avoids nuisance tripping.

I recently had my gas intallation COC'd. I had passed a rubber gas tube from a 9kg bottle, through a cupboard to the stove. Not allowed. Just an example of where installers know the rules better.

geyser must be on earth leakage and earthed ,if stove is connected correctly with a stove coupler it doesnt have to be on earth leakage .

 

[schuits]

geyser must be on earth leakage and earthed ,if stove is connected correctly with a stove coupler it doesnt have to be on earth leakage .

I started googling that, then see you've commented on one of my posts about this before...haha.

I agree with you, I don't know why the electrician who re-did our board didn't connect it to EL, ESPECIALLY because he was there to investigate why we were experiencing mild shocks from taps.

 

[W@P]

Thanks,

Ha! No you didn't miss it, I forgot to put it in. I'm looking at the 8Kw, based on the stats over a year below.

I have seen peaks slightly over 10kW though, they don't show on the graph as this depicts max usage/hour.


View attachment 1582706

I have had peaks of 10kW or close to 10kW often. Must go and check in detail. I don't notice it except if I know the geysers are on and the vacuum and the kettle and the microwave. If I catch it I stop the kettle and the mic. Usually happens when my workers are here. It has tripped once or twice.

 

[TedLasso]

Would two batteries be connected like this from the fuse holder ?


Asking as for my two Hubbles
Positive goes from fuse holder to Hubble 2
Negative goes from fuse holder Hubble 1

And then cables between the two Hubbles

 

[schuits]

Would two batteries be connected like this from the fuse holder ?


Asking as for my two Hubbles
Positive goes from fuse holder to Hubble 2
Negative goes from fuse holder Hubble 1

And then cables between the two Hubbles

View attachment 1582732

The AM5 is 51.2V, so I wired them in parallel to keep the same voltage.

 

[soulie]

I started googling that, then see you've commented on one of my posts about this before...haha.

I agree with you, I don't know why the electrician who re-did our board didn't connect it to EL, ESPECIALLY because he was there to investigate why we were experiencing mild shocks from taps.

because he doesnt know the regulations and probably doesnt have a wiremans liscence ,or hes still living in the 80s and gets all his info off a forum .

 

[schuits]

C

because he doesnt know the regulations and probably doesnt have a wiremans liscence ,or hes still living in the 80s and gets all his info off a forum .

Comforting. I still need to check the swimming pool and spa, but I suspect they aren't earthed, and that setup was done to COC the house before we bought it ..... maybe someone was secretly trying to off their spouse?!

 

[soulie]

C

Comforting. I still need to check the swimming pool and spa, but I suspect they aren't earthed, and that setup was done to COC the house before we bought it ..... maybe someone was secretly trying to off their spouse?!

any part of an install ,especially around water should be on an E/L unit ,unless its a 2 wire pump then its manufacturer specs ,the code is not to penalise its all about common sense and basic safety ,so many posts around giving out bad info especially around geysers .

 

[soulie]

just also make provision for your E/L units earth as well if needed ,some use a pigtail some pull their earth through the clips on the rail .depends on which you fit .

 

[TheChamp]

Would two batteries be connected like this from the fuse holder ?


Asking as for my two Hubbles
Positive goes from fuse holder to Hubble 2
Negative goes from fuse holder Hubble 1

And then cables between the two Hubbles

View attachment 1582732

Yes, the connection is fine, the two batteries are in parallel. There could be two terminals of each pole on a battery which is what you might be talking about, that would be sorted out when the connection is behind done.